Content Marketing is the new buzz word in the field of marketing. Though, it isn’t exactly a new concept. Some of us practicioners have been marketing “content” for decades, we’ve called it “thought leadership” marketing. But, no matter what you label it – it WORKS – and it all hinges on one critical element – CONTENT!
This is where the rubber meets the road. In professional services firms, we strive to demonstrate expertise by planning and implementing integrated marketing campaigns that give our clients and prospects a meaningful insight that they would find valuable – CONTENT! However, as any of you struggling with the main ingredient for content marketing know—good content is hard to find!
I read articles and listen to presentations on marketing by the dozen. There is an overabundance of information out there, available to each of us, so how do you sift through it all? I choose to listen, absorb, and try on for size – what appeals to me. Reading articles such as “The Content Marketing Pyramid: Are You Hungry for Content?” , helped me realize that in an era where modern marketers are always held up by the constant need for “content” with which to market, curated content is a valid option. So, what “mix” of content is optimal? Not all content is created equal.
In his article, @TweetsFromPawan uses the Age Old Food Pyramid to talk about CONTENT mix. I think it is a valid framework and it has influenced my thinking. As a marketer, I have always pushed to create new, targeted content for marketing. However, in my personal “content” quest – I use “curated” content at least 50% of the time. Can “curated content” be credible to position the firm as well as ourselves? So alas, my first blog post…..
I will strive to take a solid position – and my position is YES, yes, a thousand times YES! Even B2B (business-to-business) and B2G (business-to-government) firms should be including a curated content strategy as part of their overall marketing strategy. As always we should take our lead from B2C (business-to-consumer) marketing trends, which quite possibly start with personal marketing trends (what individual’s with brands are doing/ saying publicly online).
Below, I’ll outline my Pro’s and Con’s below, just so you can get the cliff notes version of my countless hours of thinking and conversing with peers, colleagues, competitors, and clients about this….
POSTIVES +
Marketing gains content (the missing ingredient)
Tie your brand’s name with other relevant brands in the industry
Your brand can become known as the go-to resource for all-things relevant to your target audience, a clearinghouse if you will
Build relationships online
Increased frequency of messaging
– NEGATIVES –
Lose some ability to track metrics/ report
Send browsers to a web site other than your own
That said, curating content is not to be taken lightly. In my school days of card catalogs and bibliographies teachers and administrators considered curating content – plagiarism. Therefore, be deliberate about how you source your curated content and never take credit for their content as your own. In fact, I encourage you practitioners out there to form relationships with other content marketers and actually PLAN to share content intentionally! (And, er, don’t forget to share your blog post with them if you are referencing them …)
Also, do not underestimate the “read between the lines” messages that ensue due to curated content. You are in fact telling people that you (or your brand) supports the author (or brand) of the curated content. Even if you have all the right disclaimers on your blog or handle profile, this is still the unspoken agreement. It’s not awful; it’s just a fact of life. We aren’t talking paid celebrity endorsements here, just a simple declaration, that I (or my brand) like what this person (or this brand) is saying about X. So be planful about what brands and individuals you choose to curate content from – you’ll be glad you did!
Also, proceed with caution. Don’t go “All-In” your first time out of the gate. Let me be clear, I am not suggesting that curated content is the secret sauce for all of our content marketing troubles! Curated content will certainly prove to be high payoff, low risk for specific marketing channels (e.g. social media platforms like Twitter and Linked In), but not others (say your Corporate web site). There will be shades of grey for sure too – like, should you use curated content in email newsletters? Only time will tell what the tolerance will be for that type of behavior, and it will surely vary by market, sector, and brand.
And so I ask you—do you agree with curated content having a place in B2B and B2G marketing? If so, have you tried it before? And can you please share your successes and failures? (Inquiring minds want to know!)